Leopard Strikes Again, Kills Cow In Odisha’s Nuapada

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Nuapada: The leopard, which has been on the prowl in Odisha’s Nuapada district, reportedly killed a cow at Taria Mahulabhatta village under Nuapada forest range in early hours of Saturday.

Locals said that the big cat entered the village at late in the night and dragged away a cow from the cattle shed of one Kuman Naik. Villagers later found its mauled carcass in the nearby area.

On being informed, a team of forest officials visited the village and asked the villagers to remain vigilant. “CCTV cameras have been installed at different places to track its movement and the efforts are on to catch it,” said a forest officer.

This came three days a calf was found dead in Jalamadhei village inside Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Nuapada district, while a woman, Sanamati Barik (65), of Jalamadhei village was mauled to death by the big cat when she had gone to collect firewood near her home on March 19.

The third attack within a week has spread panic among the villagers and they are spending sleepless night.  Two buffaloes and a calf were killed while one bullock and a calf were attacked by leopards, which have been straying into the villages and dragging away livestock from their houses for the last three weeks, the villagers claimed.

At least four such incidents have been reported since March 6 where locals have found half-eaten carcass of their cattle and even spotted the animal.

According to reports, a female leopard has shelter in a cave near the village with her two cubs and is hunting for prey to feed itself and its offsprings.